Singapore aid for Riau poor families

Singapore aid for Riau poor families

PEKANBARU, Riau: Aid in the form of boxes of 21 types of
medicines and 4,000 metric tons of rice from the Singapore
government donated to poor families in the province has arrived
at Dumai Port, an official said here Tuesday.

Assistant to the director general of people's welfare, Djalil
Rasyid, said the relief, packed in 58 containers, would be
distributed to the needy in two stages.

The first half of the aid will be distributed this week, while
the remaining half next month in preparation for the Islamic
Ramadhan fasting month, he was quoted by Antara as saying.

According to Djalil, the free rice and medicines donated by
the neighboring country will be given to poor families in
Pekanbaru, Bengkalis, Kampar, Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir.

The medicines include vitamins, antibiotics and antimalaria
pills.

Data from the provincial administration shows that Riau is
home to 141,000 poor people, most of whom reside in Indragiri
Hulu.

Djalil assumes the real number of needy people in the province
is slightly higher than the official figure.

"It is believed that many outsiders have thronged to the area
looking for jobs as they believe that Riau has not yet been
affected by the monetary crisis," he said. (bsr)